Golf ball spin can have a massive impact on distance and lift, as well as determining where the ball will go after it hits the ground.
In this blog post, we're going to explore the different factors that affect your golf ball's spin rate. Understanding golf ball spin will help you to optimise each stroke and elevate your game.
What Is Golf Ball Spin?
Let's start with the basics. When you strike a golf ball, the impact of the club sends the ball spinning. A golf ball's spin rate is measured in rpm (rotations per minute) from the moment the ball leaves the club face.
Backspin occurs when the club face lifts the ball up into the air, causing it to spin backwards as it's travelling forwards.
Sidespin occurs when the force of your swing causes the ball to rotate to the left or the right. If the ball rotates left, this is called a hook or a draw. If the ball spins right, this is known as a slice or a fade.
Finally there's topspin (also known as overspin), which is only relevant when you're putting. Topspin is the opposite of backspin, meaning that the golf ball spins forward in the same direction it's travelling.
What Affects Golf Ball Spin?
There are many factors that can increase or decrease your golf ball’s spin rate. From weather conditions to the number of dimples on the cover, the tiniest detail can have a noticeable impact on your golf ball’s performance.
Here are some key elements to think about when you're trying to master golf ball spin.
1. Launch angle (loft)
Loft - determined by the angle between your club face and the ground - will heavily impact the spin of a golf ball. For example, a low launch angle can result in a low spin rate and low height, although a low launch angle with a high spin rate can result in a Tiger Woods stinger shot, reaching peak height later on in its flight.
2. Club path
'Club path' is the direction in which your club head is moving (left or right) as it strikes the ball. There are different types of club path, each of which has a different effect on a golf ball’s spin rate:
- In-to-out: the club travels to the right, creating a hook or draw sidespin. These shots are said to have a positive club path value.
- In-square-in: the club hits a straight shot with no curvature. A perfectly straight shot has a club path value of zero.
- Out-to-in: the club travels to the left, creating a slice or fade sidespin. These shots are said to have a negative club path value.
N.B. The above explanations assume you're a right-handed golfer. If you're left-handed, it's the other way around.
3. Attack angle
The attack angle is the angle of impact, also known as the up (positive) or down (negative) movement of the club head.
When you hit the ball at a positive attack angle, this raises the loft of your ball, resulting in more distance and less spin.
Alternatively, when you use a negative attack angle, this results in less distance and more spin.
The famous golf instructor Jim McLean has a video where he uses a TrackMan to explain this in greater detail.
4. Club head speed
Put simply, the faster you swing your golf club, the more spin you can achieve on your golf ball. The faster the club face is travelling when it impacts the ball, the more time the grooves have to grab the ball to create spin.
For example, if you’re using a driver on a par 4 or 5 tee shot, you’ll want the spin to enhance your ball’s distance.
At this point, the driver will cohesively use spin and speed to keep the ball in the air for an extended amount of time, allowing it to maximise its carrying distance before it lands and rolls (hopefully) towards the hole.
If You're Looking for a Golf Ball With Low Spin...
Srixon Q-Star Tour
For long distance shots, try these low spin golf balls! They also offer a mid-high spin if you prefer wedge control.
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If You're Looking for a Golf Ball With High Spin...
Srixon Z-STAR XV
These balls have a urethane cover with a Spin Skin+ coating, allowing the ball to dig deeper into the grooves of irons and wedges for more advances spin control.
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